CNA Personalities

[fuzzywuzzy]

I'm sure we have all run into every one of these people at our jobs!

The Martyr- Anytime this CNA does the tiniest little thing that's not on her assignment, she has to roll her eyes and announce it to everyone, thereby making what could have been a pleasant surprise for someone else into a reason for them to feel inadequate.

The Nag- This person does everything by the book. She is annoying to work with because she lectures everyone on the way you're supposed to be doing things... even if you ARE doing them right, she still brings it up for no reason.

The Hysterical One- These people go ballistic over everything. They could have the easiest assignment in the whole building working with the best crew and everything going swimmingly and they will still find some reason to panic irrationally about what they have left to do.

The Workhorse- This CNA busts her butt doing everything for everybody and is constantly offering to do other people's work. But she would rather die than have to ask anyone else for a favor and so she is easily taken advantage of.

The Lazy One- This person doesn't bother to do anything beyond the minimum. To them, mouthcare, repositioning, and toileting more than once a shift are all optional. After her assignment has been "finished" she sits down and pretends to do paperwork, leaving her coworkers to answer call lights and fend for themselves.

The Boss- This person thinks that the only way to give good, thorough care is HER way. She's very bossy and if you don't do everything the way she likes it, she tattles on you.

The *****- Someone who is gloomy, aloof, or crabby all the time for no apparent reason. Either way, she seems miserable to be there. Working with her is no fun unless you're a part of her clique.

The Headless Chicken- Another aggravating person to work with. She means well, but she can't get by without someone bailing her out. This type of CNA is often ditzy and forgetful too. Every day is like her first day on the job.

[GCTMT]

Powerless, No. Resident & Patient caregivers/advocates, Yes!

BTW, I've worked in the office sector previously for years and people get labeled, tagged, etc. in the same way. It's simply part of human nature and society. Have you not taken Human Growth & Development or Psychology yet?

Oh cool, well then I guess that makes everything okay. :)

[GCTMT]

I think that some people need to get a life. It is not that serious. This is a funny post. Some people take themselves a little too seriously if they couldn't see the humor in this post. Fuzzy is right, it is funny because it is true.

ALSO, you have these personality traits in every office and on every team.

Fuzzy, you can't please them all. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I agree, it is so true. We all fit into neat little categories and our identities end with our employment.

[dannyc12]

You are so right? Everything you said made a coworkers face "appear."

I thought the same thing!

I'll take credit for the "Workhorse" tag. Better than the other options.

I'd like to add "The Scam Artist" - can always figure out ways to avoid work at the same time staying under the radar of management.

[dannyc12]

The Adrenaline Junkie-- Believe it or not, this species is seen most often in the event of an "emergency". Whenever there is an instance of explosive, C-Diff diarrhea in one of the rooms, she is instantly in full isolation gear and ready to go. Also seen around blood products. Should have been an EMT.

I've been wondering why I am always the one in the area when the poop hits the windmill!

[NP Sam]

I've been wondering why I am always the one in the area when the poop hits the windmill!

Me too! Why does poop always seem to find me? And it is always patients on my assignment no matter where Im at in the building that are getting laxed!

[eveningsky339, LPN]

There are few things more intense than scrambling into isolation gear after resident X has severe diarrhea and a stage II pressure ulcer to boot.

I think I've run out of personalities...

[makingitright]

Wow. I am flabbergasted! These are all the personalities that you could come up with? Well then, it must be so nice to be able to be so well thought out in the idea of who we CNA's are exactly, how everyone of us must function, think and must feel. I would have to say do not leave nurses out of the game. For each personality you have listed here, I have worked with a nurse who was twice as bad. Funny thing though, you have failed to mention the CNA's that do come to work every day and give the best of themselves. Some who love what they do, and others although we may not love what we do, but we treat our patients good and with the utmost respect and who are not whiny or jerks to our coworkers.

I have been a CNA for a very long time and personally I have come to really dislike being one. The respect factor is often times zero. One is expected to work under the worst and most strenuous conditions sometimes and the pay is lousy...very lousy. However, when I face my patients, I mentally put these truths away. I focus on the patients and what their needs are. I do try my best to bring them joy and some happiness. I am a professional and every move I make is about what is best for them. I make sure that I do my job very well.

Some may ask why am I still a CNA then? My answer is that I hang in there because I want to be a nurse, I always have always wanted be one and I will be one. I know that being a CNA will enable me to be to be a better nurse in the future. Some days are better than others, I refuse to get lost in the shuffle. My dreams will come true.

So back to the reason that I have decided to post my feelings on this thread. Yes, although there may be some character traits of CNA's that I have worked with listed here. However, it would have been nice to see the positive traits highlighted here as well. For the positive does out way the negative ones and in my opinion it keeps us doing what we do, and keeps us giving the best of us.

[cryswms]

It wasn't just this thread that made me think you were bitter... But that is neither here nor there... if you cannot see the humor in it, than this thread isn't for you...

This thread brought a smile to my face and like I said before these personalities can be associated with ANY JOB... I loved this thread it makes me laugh with every update.

[johnnybravo8802]

Are these comments coming from CNA's or nurses? I'll give you my opinion from the perspective of a 16 yr. veteran RN who has been in multiple hospitals and multiple units-I was always a float nurse. I started out as a nurse tech when I was in nursing school and worked two years wiping tails and doing everything under the sun. Since I was in the BSN program, I had a vested interest and wasn't there for just a paycheck-I busted my tail and did my time!!!!! I could write a book about CNA's but will sum it up like this-"CNA's are by far the laziest group of people in a hospital and aren't worth $2 cents". The ones I worked with were absolutely useless and should have been working at Burger King instead of with people where you're suppose to care. I know I will get the third degree for this but, again, this is based on multiple hospitals over 16 years-All the nurses I worked with had the same opinion. Bottom line, if you don't like your job, LEAVE!!!! There are plenty of people in the unemployment line who'd love to have a job. If I have to do my job and the CNA's, what good are they. My take is, take responsibility of yourself and your actions and be an adult. People who don't care have no business in the medical profession. Put yourself in the patients and families position with a bitc@#$# CNA!!!!!!!! Who wants that!!!!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

^So... what about all those "worthless" CNAs that went on to become nurses? Did that license magically turn them into hardworking, compassionate people who love every minute of their jobs and go out of their way to be helpful?

Thankfully most of us the nurses and CNAs have a good relationship with one another where I work. There are of course a few lazy CNAs (who would be lazy in any job), but the rest of us pick up their slack and the nurses don't paint us all with the same brush.

[makingitright]

To the nurse that wrote that he or she have been a RN for 16 years and that CNA's are worth two cents. It is because of people like you that some CNA's feel and act the way they do! I have been a CNA for 14 years. I too have broken my ass doing what is best for my patients! When I started to work as one I was wide eyed and bushy tailed because I was knew I was on cusp of doing something wonderful. I have come to dislike it because I have deal with nurses who often time belittle and demean if not me, others like me, their own peers and even family members as if we were all beneath them. I have witnessed first hand nurses treating veteran CNA's who have worked for over thirty plus years as if they were dirt under their feet! Yes, the respect factor is pretty much zero and one has to demand respect. I demand to be treated with respect. I have worked with some really awful people and those people make it hard for everyone else. Yes CNA's have really screwed up personalities, but let us consider the whole picture here.

I have been around I have worked in hospitals, hospices, ltc's and the like and thank goodness what keeps me in the game are the good ones, because for every bad one there are two or three who are wonderful. Another reason the fact that I do make a frigin difference! I do mentally put the crap behind me and do the best that I can do. And last but not least, the one that fires me up more is the fact that I have a dream of becoming a nurse. I want to be the best nurse that I can be, and I have made a vow that when I become one, I will treat everyone and I mean everyone with the utmost respect!!!!

In this life it takes all kinds, but what I bring to the table is the fact that I actually give a damn! And truth be known there is nothing better than to love what you do, and be paid for it. No one is an altruist here! We have families, bills and responsibilities to tend to. So let us not play the fools of ourselves.

So the next time you start mouthing off about CNA's are worth nothing much, think again! For we are the foundation that keeps these places running. You bloody well cannot do it all by your damn self! And what is more don't you ever forget it!

[johnnybravo8802]

I commend you for being a good CNA who cares-keep caring! The fact is, as RN's, we do do it by ourselves most of the time because the techs aren't doing anything(Who do you think does it when a hospital decides to let the tech stay at home because of a low census?). As an RN who is licensed and responsible(Especially if you're in charge) for the patients, we can't just disappear to dodge work or take breaks when blood sugars need to be checked, or be out taking smoke breaks when a post-op is coming back from surgery(When the sh#@ hits the fan, the MD and management doesn't call the tech to the floor, it's the RN). What about the tech who is on her way out at shift change while the lights are blinking off the hook and we're in the middle of report and the doctor is on the phone wanting to give orders. You see, I've been there as a tech and I know what it's like to take care of 20+ pt's by myself with no help. I also realize how much more a nurse does versus a tech-try taking your job and multiplying it by 10 and then you'll be a nurse. Again, I've been on both sides of the fence. How about the tech who refuses to take a vital because the nurse is sitting down charting and she sees it as not working?-Guess what, that's part of nursing. What about the tech who keeps stating that the only difference between them and me(RN) is a name tag-Yea, and about 6 fuc@#$% yrs. of college!!!!!! How about the diabetic pts. who didn't get fed lunch until 3PM because the tech was too busy eating their lunch. I also love the tech who comes in at 3PM and states that she is doing this but not doing that because there is only one of her and 20 pts.-NO SH$#, welcome to the medical profession where we're all overworked and under payed only I can't refuse to take care of a patient because someone has to be responsible. You see, it works both ways, the respect thing. I've actually done more tech work as an RN than I did as a tech because of the techs not working. I will say that I have worked with a couple of good techs but they were few and far in between. It takes an RN to understand this.